The equation of a line is given as 1/3x +1/6y =4. If Rashonda wants to clear the fractions, by what number should she multiply the equation?

1 answer

To eliminate the fractions in the equation \( \frac{1}{3}x + \frac{1}{6}y = 4 \), you need to find a common denominator for the fractions.

The denominators in the equation are 3 and 6, and the least common multiple (LCM) of 3 and 6 is 6. Therefore, you can multiply the entire equation by 6 to clear the fractions.

Here’s how it works:

\[ 6 \left( \frac{1}{3}x \right) + 6 \left( \frac{1}{6}y \right) = 6 \cdot 4 \]

This gives:

\[ 2x + y = 24 \]

So, Rashonda should multiply the entire equation by 6 to eliminate the fractions.